Word: teethe
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...problem is that there is much in China that needs breaking. In fine imperial tradition, Jiang has left this task to an underling. While Jiang pacifies by practicing the art of the possible, it is Premier Zhu who prefers--even enjoys--sharpening his teeth on the impossible. Zhu staked his personal prestige on doing a WTO deal single-handedly when he traveled to the U.S. in April--and failed when the White House decided a deal was politically unwise. Jiang patiently waited for Clinton to approach him, meanwhile building a consensus among the Chinese leadership that made the final negotiations...
...toying with the gullible schoolteacher. Here, though, the creature must be realer than a nightmare--a galloping plague to purge Sleepy Hollow. He is embodied, occasionally, by Christopher Walken, who could terrify small children just by singing I'm a Little Teapot. In full Horseman drag, with his spiky teeth and Stygian melancholy, Walken is an R rating waiting to happen...
Only a few songs on To the Teeth fall short of Ani-esque brilliance. "Freakshow" begins its study of the circus with grinding guitars and grating vocals, yet concludes that the Big Top is essentially all about "love and compliance." There seems to be some sort of grand metaphor here, but DiFranco never clues us in. It's easy to skip over a song that squeals "And some of the clowns are happy/And some of the clowns are sad." Whatever you say, Ani. Many listeners may be confused and unsettled by the juxtaposition of extended clown analogies with aching accusations...
...Teeth does not remain silly for long. "Hello Birmingham" is a dialogue between Buffalo and Birmingham, two cities recently targeted by pro-life terrorists. DiFranco's social commentary waxes over vital and relevant points, though she often finds herself grappling with similar issues again and again: violence against women, homophobia, the right to choose, drug abuse and workers' rights. Her criticism is always painfully accurate, but rarely preachy or repetitive. Despite some of the musical near-misses she has encountered while pumping out a surging stream of albums, DiFranco remains innovative and consistent on To the Teeth. She proves that...
...ordinarily recognizable becoming barely that: the headless horseman--when he has a head in a flashback and in the resolution--is played by Christopher Walken. Walken's silent performance is sure to make you start out of your seat at least the first time you see him. His gnarly-teeth, wild hair and demonic eyes make you regard his subsequent headlessness as less of a fright and more of a relief...